UH feels blessed, fortunate to have UFC sponsor photo-video session

LAS VEGAS >> The shape of the University of Hawaii football team is an octagon.

On Tuesday, UFC sponsored and produced a photo/video shoot at the Apex for four players representing the Rainbow Warriors at this week’s Mountain West Media Days in Las Vegas.

In addition to a nearly three-hour session at UFC’s state-of-the-art production facility, a crew followed quarterback Micah Alejado, running back Cam Barfield, linebacker Jamih Otis and nickelback Elijah Palmer touring their alma mater. All four are graduates of Bishop Gorman High School, a national football powerhouse located in Las Vegas.

The footage and photos will be used to promote the Warriors in commercials, on social media, and during games at the Ching Complex. The cost of production and crew is estimated at more than $100,000. UFC waived the fee and donated the footage and photos to the Warriors.

“This is big,” said UH associate head coach Chris Brown, who helped broker the arrangement. “To actually walk around and see where they have the fights and the gym, this is where the action is. To open it up to us is huge. Nobody else is getting these opportunities. We’re very grateful.”

Alejado said: “I’m thankful to everyone who made this happen. It’s humongous to the program.”

The idea stemmed from the friendship between Brown and Craig Borsari, UFC’s chief content officer and executive producer. They met when Brown was Bishop Gorman’s assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Borsari’s son Hudson is a UH kicker and Bishop Gorman graduate.

Craig Borsari expressed an interest in supporting the Warriors.

“He’s a very gracious guy, and we were talking about different things we could do for the University of Hawaii football team,” Brown said. “We came up with the idea of possibly doing a promo video/photo day. He was really gracious enough to open up the Apex and have his crew ready.”

The Apex is a 130,000 square-foot complex that has a ballroom-sized “stage” for mixed martial arts fights, broadcast studio and interview room. The complex also has an announcer’s booth, production/control room, locker rooms and even a cut man’s room.

Borsari oversees production of UFC’s promotion highly entertaining videos and commercials. Borsari also handled production of last month”s UFC card at the White House. Nick Brown, an Emmy-winning senior producer, handled production of the UH project.

Nick Brown asked Chris Brown for requests.

“I said I wanted it to be legendary,” Chris Brown said. “I wanted it to be lighting where fans across the country can feel what the Warriors are all about.”

Nick Brown set up tracks for the video operator to move in and away from the players. Three green-tinted spotlights created a “Wicked” effect for some shots.

“It’s very epic how the lighting makes the players pop,” Chris Brown said. “I think it’s going to push who we are just by the way they do things, the professionalism of the whole thing.”

About a dozen crew members worked on the staging, shooting, lighting, sound and editing. Media relations director Derek Inouchi brought the Warriors’ uniforms and helmets, as well as the Hawaiian flag.

Most of all, there was the vibe of the UFC, from the photos in the corridors to the “UFC sans font” on the guest card outside the players’ dressing room.

“I’m a big UFC fan,” Barfield said. “I grew up in Vegas. I think the GOAT is Jon Jones. Obviously, Max Holloway is good. Conor McGregor is Hall of Fame, too. I watched BJ Penn. But this is surreal. This is my first time here. I always drive by the building. It’s the first time I’m here. I’m very excited and very blessed to have this opportunity and do this thing here. It’s super exciting. This is where they do the little fights. Super cool seeing the back scenes of UFC.”

Brown said the timing was perfect with four Bishop Gorman alumni attending the Mountain West event in Las Vegas. There are 16 Gaels on the Warriors’ 2026 roster. UNLV has only five former Bishop Gorman players.

“Going back to the roots,” Alejado said. “It’s going back to where it all started. It’s big to represent the state of Hawaii and to represent Bishop Gorman. It’s great to see what both programs produce. Being in that position, it’s crazy how God works, to see where we are now.”

Borsari also is instrumental in building a players’ lounge on campus that doubles as a meeting room. Work has started on the project.